Empowering Auto Conference has humble beginnings. It started in 2019 at a half-day breakfast conference hosted by Women@HAC - an employee resource group, named “Empowerment,” located on-site at Hyundai Auto Canada’s head office. The intent was always to be an annual, growing conference. This event wouldn’t accomplish its aim if it remained a Hyundai-only event. We need to show the diversity, expertise and motivating individuals already in the automotive industry. We have broken down the usual competitive boundaries to unite as a community for women and their allies in the industry.

Aryan and Katherine, colleagues at Hyundai Canada, connected on their shared passion for empowering women in the automotive industry. Aryan started at Hyundai right out of university, targeting automotive specifically from her lifetime of passion for cars. Katherine took her career into auto after building a strong HR foundation in other industries.

After Katherine attended her first in-person conference in May 2022, she was inspired to re-visit the conference idea and in a big way. After a few quick text messages to re-visit the idea of hosting a large-scale conference, Katherine and Aryan started to float the idea through the Hyundai Canada ranks, and it was received with full support and enthusiasm.

With the unwavering support from our CEO Don Romano, they booked a venue and got to work.

If you’re reading this, it means you’re curious, or ready to attend and support. We appreciate that, and you! We hope to see you at an upcoming event to network and hear some incredible stories from a chorus of inspiring voices in the Canadian automotive industry.